Confirmation Bias and Making Life Choices

You seek evidence that confirms your beliefs because being wrong feels unpleasant.

Being wrong means you’re not as smart as you thought. So you end up seeking information that confirms what you already know.

When it comes to information to process, it takes effort to hold opposing hypotheses and try to evaluate evidence for and against each one. 

So your brain optimizes for the fastest shortcut to a solution. And it’s easier to look for things that support your current belief.

To fight back against cognitive biases, you need to evaluate your instinctive reactions.

The next time you run across facts that completely confirm your worldview, stop. Think about the assumptions you’re making and look for ways to prove yourself wrong.